Kazanjian



Feb. 21, 1956 c. KAZANJIAN 2,735,562

GOLF BALL REITRIEVING APPARATUS Filed Jan. 18, 1952 3 Sheets-Sheet l 6 INVENTOR Casey Ka gcuz 'zkuz BY QW/ MW ATTORNEY Feb. 21, 1956 Filed Jan. 18, 1952 c. KAZANJlAN 2,735,562

GOLF BALL RETRIEVING APPARATUS 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR Casey Kagazg'icziz.

BY QQZJN- fl ATTORNEY Feb. 21, 1956 c. KAZANJIAN GOLF BALL RETRIEVING APPARATUS 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed Jan. 18, 1952 IN VEN TOR ATTORNEY 2,735,562 GOLF BALL RETRIEVING APPARATUS Casey Kazanjian, Methuen, Mass. Application January 18, 1952, Serial No. 267,025 11 Claims. (Cl. 214 350) The present invention provides a golf ball retrieving apparatus, i. e., a vehicular structure which is adapted to be tractor-pulled over a field, such as the turf of a golf practice driving range, to collect a multiplicity of balls that have been scattered thereover.

Patrons of such driving ranges are each provided with a plurality of golf balls at a teeing point and they drive the balls successively out over the range. Periodically it is necessary to canvass the field for recovery of the balls and bring them back to the teeing point for reuse. Heretofore this operation has been performed manually by attendants who traverse the field on foot, search for the balls among the grass, pick up the balls that they are able to see, collect them in buckets or baskets, and walk back with such quantity as they are able to carry. This has proved to be a tedious, laborious, time-consuming and hence expensive procedure.

The principal object of the invention is to mechanize the retrieving operation so that it can be performed expeditiously and hence inexpensively.

To this end the invention contemplates a trailer type vehicle which can be pulled by a power driven tractor in a number of parallel traverses over the field somewhat in the manner of an agricultural harvesting machine and which will collect and assemble all the balls over which the machine passes, without relying on occular detection by the operator or on any labor or other action by him except driving the tractor vehicle.

Incidental objects include providing a machine of the type indicated which will cover a wide band or zone of the field at each traverse, which will accurately and efiiciently conform automatically to the contour of any irregular terrain over which it may be necessary to operate, which will unfailingly pick up all balls over which it may pass, which can be constructed of a minimum number of parts which for the most part are made of standard structural shapes so that the cost of manufacture is kept reasonably low, and which will be durable and foolproof in use.

Other objects and advantages will be apparent to those skilled in the art from the preferred forms of embodiment which have been thoroughly tested in actual practice and found to give complete satisfaction and which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings in which Figure l is a top plan view of a complete embodiment of the invention shown coupled to any conventional tractor vehicle;

Fig. 2 is a rear elevational view;

Fig. 3 is a rear elevational view of the cross bar assembly with the parts normally trailing the cross bar assembly removed;

Fig. 4 is a side elevational view of the ratus shown coupled to a tractor;

Fig. 5 is a top plan view of one of the trays shown cou pled by its drag links and connecting bars to the cross bar, all on a relatively enlarged scale;

Fig. 6 is a detail side elevational view of one of the central trays shown coupled to the cross bar;

complete appanited States Patent Fig. 7 is a longitudinal sectional view, taken through the tray on the line 7-7 of Fig. 5;

Fig. 8 is a side elevational view of one of the drag links;

Fig. 9 is a top plan View of the drag link shown in Fig. 8;

Fig. 10 is an end elevational view of the rear component of one of the drag links;

Fig. 11 is an end elevational view of the forward component of one of the drag links;

Fig. 12 is a top plan view of one of the tray plow or shoe elements;

Fig. 13 is a longitudinal sectional view through the plow, taken on the line 1313 of Fig. 12;

Fig. 14 is a perspective view of one of the trays; and

Fig. 15 is a perspective view of a modified form of tray shown coupled by connecting rods to a cross bar without the use of any drag links.

Referring to these figures, and first to Figs. 1-14, the reference numeral 20 designates a draw bar which extends longitudinally rearwardly from any suitable pulling vehicle, such as the small tractor 21, to which the forward end of the drawbar may be coupled by any conventional type of hitch. A double framework consisting of two relatively long forward diagonal braces 22 and two relatively short longitudinal braces 23 rigidly connected at the front end of each to a median point on one of the diagonals 22 is hinged at 24 to each opposite side of forward point on the drawbar, and a relatively short rear diagonal brace 25 is rigidly connected to each side of the drawbar at a point spaced behind the hinges 24 so that each of the diagonals 25 parallels the adjacent diagonal 22 and terminates on the common transverse line established by the rear ends of the diagonals 22, longitudinal braces 23 and drawbar 20, at a point spaced slightly inwardly from the end of the adjacent longitudinal 23. The drawbar, longitudinals and diagonals may all be made of angle irons or other standard structural shapes, or of equivalent wood construction so that the framework comprising the drawbar 20 and the diagonals 25 is relatively rigid but capable of up and down swinging movement about the tractor hitch, and each framework made up of one of the diagonals 22 and the adjacent longitudinal 23 is also relatively rigid but capable of limited up and down swinging movement about its hinge 24.

A cross bar assembly is formed of a central cross bar member 26 and two lateral cross bar extensions 27, aligned axially and spanning the width of the apparatus as shown in Fig. l, with the central cross bar member rigidly connected at its mid point to the rear end of the drawbar 20 and rigidly connected near its ends to the rear ends of the two rear diagonals 25, with each of the extensions 27 rigidly connected near its inner end to the rear end of one of the longitudinals 23 and at about its mid point to the rear end of one of the diagonals 22, and with the inner ends of the extensions 27 connected by hinges 28 to the outer ends of the central cross bar member 26. The cross bar members may be made of the same kind of material as the drawbar, diagonals and longitudinals, and each of the cross bar members is mounted on a pair or more of wheels, rollers or casters 29 which support the cross bar assembly for rolling over the ground.

It will be evident that, with the construction thus far described, when the apparatus is pulled over uneven terrain each of the cross bar members is free to rise and fall within considerable limits by pivoting action of the tractor hitch and of the hinges 24 and 28, so that when, as is preferred, each of the cross bar members is made in a length of from six to eight feet, these members will follow quite faithfully the contours of any turf that may be found Patented Feb. 21, 1956.

in any field capable of being used as a golf practice driving range.

To the outer ends of the cross bar extensions 27 there may be connected, by hinges like the hinges 28, additional extensions (not shown) if it be desired to increase the width of the band or zone to be covered by each traverse of the apparatus. These additional extensions are like the extensions 27 and hence need not be described, and to them are appended the same kind of golf ball collecting means which are shown connected to the members 26 and 27 and which will now be explained.

in the form of the invention shown in Figs. 1l4, there is connected to each of the cross bar members 26 and 27, by hinges 30, the forward ends of a double set of parallel longitudinal connecting bars the rear ends of which carry hinges 31, as best shown in Fig. 5. The pins of these hinges, like those of the hinges 24 and 28, are disposed horizontally so that the connecting bars are capable of up and down swinging movement. The connecting bars are best arranged in double sets of three each, with the bars of each set made of unequal length so that the rear hinges 31 define diagonal lines which converge rearwardly, and each of the hinges 31 of one of the members of each double set is secured to a two-part drag link, designated generally 32. The connecting bars of each member of the double set may comprise an outermost short one 33, an intermediate longer one 34, and an innermost longest one 35. Each drag link may consist of an outer or forward member 36 and an inner or rear member 37. The two are connected in alignment by a hinge 33 or equivalent pivot so that the composite link 32 is diagonally directed and converges toward the rear end of its cooperating, adjacent companion link 32, all as shown in Fig. 5, with freedom of the members 36 and 37 to swing about the hinges 31 and 38. This freedom, combined with the shortness of the link members, permits the members to conform quite exactly to even very small irregularities of the ground over which they pass in the operation of the apparatus. When the cross bar members are made in the length heerinabove suggested, the length of the link members 36 and 37 may be of the order of one foot, more or less, but of course other lengths and proportions may be adopted within the spirit of the invention.

The lower edges of the drag link members rest on the round, and to eliminate all tendency to dig into the ground the vertical walls which form the leading edges of these members may be flanged rearwardly as shown at 39 for the member 37 and at 40 for the member as. These two flanges may be made alike; however, the forward member 36 may have its flange 40 obliquely upturned, while the flange 39 of the member 37 should be made more horizontal, as shown in Figs. and 11, to facilitate connection of a plow or shoe, as will be hereinafter explained. Both of the members 36 and 37 may be made of stiff sheet metal with horizontally rearwardly directed top flanges 41 and 42 respectively to which the hinges 31 are secured.

A portion of the leading, vertical wall of the rear member 37 is preferably cut out and has inserted in it a grill 43 of coarse screen with a mesh large enough to pass small foreign objects, like grass, pebbles, twigs and the like, but too small to pass any object as large as a golf ball. Such balls, it will be understood, are caused to roll along the drag links 32 as the apparatus is pulled over the field, and to converge at the area where the lines of the cooperating links of each pair would intersect. To collect the balls I provide a tray or pan 45 which slides along the ground behind each area of drag link intersection.

Each of these trays may be made of sheet metal, formed as a shallow pan of generally rectangular shape with low perimetric walls beveled or converging at the front as shown at 46 and terminating short of intersection to provide a front opening 47, as best shown in Fig. l4.

At the forward portion of the tray, near the intersection of the beveled front wall 46, an upstanding extension of each side wall terminates in an inwardly directed flange 48 from which a pin 49 projects upwardly. Each of these pins cooperates to couple the tray to a converging pair of drag link assemblies 32 by penetrating a hole formed in the rear end of a tie bar 50 which forward end is hinged at 51 to one of the ends of a short cross member 52 which is bolted to the top flanges 42 of the two inner members 37 of the cooperating drag links 32.

To complete and perfect the connection of each tray 45 to its pair of drag links 32, it is convenient to use a plow or shoe 54 of the special shape shown in Fig. 12. This comprises a central, forwardly pointed portion 55 having at its rear side portions a pair of diagonally forwardly projecting fiat arms which diverge at the same angle as that at which the bottom flanges 39 of the drag link members 37 converge. These arms are seated on the flanges 39 which it will be recalled are flat and horizontal, and may be permanently secured to them, as for example by spot welding. The pointed forward portion 55 of the shoe or plow is upturned, as best appears in Fig. 7, so as to keep small debris, such as pebbles, leaves, cut grass, ant hill sand, etc., from entering the opening in the front of the tray. The plow deflects along its sides any golf ball that it may encounter, and any such ball is thus directed to one or the other of the longitudinal side edges, designated 57 in Fig. 12, between the pointed forward portion 55 and the adjacent arm 56 of the plow. This edge is best made about two inches in length, which is sufficient to admit a golf ball into the pan through the front opening 47 thereof but will exclude any appreciably larger object. It will be recognized that the only avenue of ingress to the pan is past the edge 57 and through the opening 47.

It will be noted from Fig. 1 that the pans 45 are arranged in multiple along the cross bar members 26 and 27 and any additional extensions thereof, with the drag links 32 of adjacent pans arranged with their front ends closely continguous to each other so that it will be impossible for any object as large as a golf ball to pass between the drag links of adjacent pans. Thus the entire width of the band or zone of the field extending from end to end of the entire cross bar assembly is well combed by the drag links, which swing about the hinges 30, 31 and 38,. as well as having some additional adjustability imparted to them by the hinges 24 and 28, so that the drag link members will rise and fall in very close conformity to all irregularities of the terrain and no object as large as a golf ball will be permitted to pass beneath them but will be impinged by them and deflected into one or another of the pans, through its opening 47 as has been explained.

After the field has been completely combed, which can be done rapidly in a relatively small number of traverses at good speed, the apparatus is brought back to the teeing point. There the tie bars 50 are swung up about the hinges 51, the trays are lifted from the overlapping relation of their front edges with the back edges of the plows 54, and the trays are dumped by pouring the golf balls from them, through the openings 47, into the buckets which are supplied to the driving range patrons.

For certain limited uses, where the terrain is quite level and clear of even minor obstructions and debris, the modified form of tray or pan 60 which is shown in Fig. 15 may be coupled directly to a cross bar member 26, 27 or the like. This tray has inwardly and rearwardly converging front end walls 61 leading to a front opening 62, and is connected through the medium of pins like the pins 47 of the trays 45 to tie bars 63 which have their forward ends hinged at 64. to the cross bar member. The trays 60 are disposed in close together side by side relation so as to prevent passage of a golf ball between them. It will be recognized that such a tray arrangement, while somewhat simpler than the embodiment which ineludes the drag links 32 and screens 43, is less etficient and efiective on ordinary terrain, but the modified arrangement can be used to advantage on fields that are level and smooth and have been rather completely cleaned of obstructions and debris so that accumulation of foreign matter in the trays presents no real problem.

It is to be understood that the materials, such as angle iron, sheet metal, wood and the like which have been recommended for use in fabricating the apparatus are suggested merely, and that equivalents may be substituted. It is also to be noted that numerous variations from the particularly described and illustrated forms of the individual parts may be resorted to without departure from the broad principles of the invention which are defined by the appended claims.

I claim:

1. In a retrieving apparatus for golf balls and the like, a plurality of trays, means for dragging said trays along and in contact with the ground in spaced apart side by side relation, each tray having an upstanding front wall provided with an opening, plows mounted in said openings and having elevated front portions spaced in front of said walls, and guide means rearwardly converging toward the spaces between the plows and the walls of the trays for directing golf balls and the like into said openings.

2. In a retrieving apparatus for golf balls and the like, a plurality of trays, means for dragging said trays along and in contact with the ground in spaced apart side by side relation, each tray having an upstanding front wall provided with an opening, plows mounted in said openings and having substantially pointed elevated front portions spaced in front of said walls, and guide means rearwardly converging toward the spaces between the plows and the walls of the trays for directing golf balls and the like into said openings.

3. In a retrieving apparatus for golf balls and the like, a tray having a flat bottom and upstanding surrounding walls, means supporting the tray for pulling it along the ground with its bottom in contact therewith, and a plow having a substantially pointed and elevated front end spaced forwardly of an opening in the front portion of the tray walls, thereby providing a pair of side openings for admitting golf balls and the like into the tray.

4. The combination claimed in claim 3, including a pair of rearwardly converging guides hinged to the tray, one at the back of each of said side openings for directing golf balls and the like into said openings.

5. The combination claimed in claim 3, including a pair of rearwardly converging guides hinged to the tray, one at the back of each of said side openings for directing golf balls and the like into said openings and having a screen area for passing material smaller than a golf ball.

6. A retrieving apparatus for golf balls and like objects comprising a vehicular structure having a framework adapted to be pulled along the ground, a plurality of open fronted trays resting directly on the ground connected to the framework so as to be disposed in side by side spaced relation behind the framework, guide means in substantial contact with the ground and sloping laterally toward the open front of each tray from a point in front of the tray and substantially midway between said tray and the next adjacent tray for impinging objects lying in the path of the guide means and directing said objects into the trays, hinges connecting the guide means to the trays, and other hinges connecting the guide means to the framework for limited independent relative movement of the guide means and trays when the apparatus is pulled over ground of irregular contour.

7. A retrieving apparatus as claimed in claim 6, in which the trays are connected to the framework by lengthwise connecting bars having their ends hinged respectively to the framework and the guide means.

8. A retrieving apparatus as claimed in claim 6, in which the trays are detachably connected to the framework for removal and for dumping collected objects therefrom.

9. A retrieving apparatus as claimed in claim 6, in which the framework includes a cross bar assembly comprising members hinged together at their ends and having the trays connected to them for trailing behind them.

10. A retrieving apparatus for golf balls and like objects comprising a vehicular structure having a framework adapted to be pulled along the ground, a plurality of open fronted trays resting directly on the ground behind the framework in side by side spaced relation, hinges connecting the trays in spaced relation to the framework, guide means located forwardly of the bodies of the trays for impinging objects lying in their path and directing said objects into the trays, said guide means comprising drag link assemblies for each tray, each assembly comprising a pair of members hinged together for relative movement adapting the members to conform to the contours of irregular terrain over which the apparatus may be pulled, and hinges connecting the guide means to the trays and framework.

11. A retrieving apparatus for golf balls and like objects comprising a vehicular structure having a framework adapted to be pulled along the ground, a plurality of open fronted trays resting directly on the ground behind the framework in side by side spaced relation, hinges connecting the trays in spaced relation to the framework, guide means located forwardly of the bodies of the trays for impinging objects lying in their path and directing said objects into the trays, said guide means comprising drag link assemblies for each tray, each assembly comprising a pair of members hinged together for relative movement adapting the members to conform to the contours of irregular terrain over which the apparatus may be pulled and including a screen for passing debris, and hinges connecting the guide means to the trays and framework.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 732,621 Dreis June 30, 1903 976,811 Kloss Nov. 22, 1910 1,216,751 Vogel Feb. 20, 1917 1,535,321 Larsen et a] Apr. 28, 1925 1,844,706 Wandscheer Feb. 9, 1932 2,208,128 Holbrook et a1 July 16, 1940 2,365,540 Fonken Dec. 19, 1944 2,482,355 McBride Sept. 20, 1949 2,484,437 Wells Oct. 11, 1949 2,597,533 Rogers May 20, 1952 2,605,005 Wenzel et al July 29, 1952 

